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Original poster

Prams on planes!

35 replies

Somersaults · 28/01/2012 18:49

We're taking DD to meet her Aussie family in 6 weeks. She'll be 15wo when we fly and 19 wo when we come back. The airline will allow us to take a completely collapsible pram on the plane for free if we load it at the gate, or else we can package it up and check it but it'll count towards our baggage allowance. We've got the iCandy Cherry and really she should still be in the carrycot pram top when we go (which would be good because she can sleep in it while we're there) but that is not completely collapsible and will also not collapse whilst attached to the base. We could take the stroller seat for it instead of the pram but even that doesn't fold whilst attached to the base. I'm worried that the parts will get separated on the plane. I've also heard from someone who works dispatch at Heathrow who says that prams are treated really badly by baggage handlers, they just throw them around. It was quote an expensive pram, not something we could afford to replace. Any tips, ideas, advice or experiences of travelling with a pram that anyone could share?

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PatriciaHolm · 28/01/2012 19:02

We've taken prams around the world and tbh I would only take a cheapie. They do tend to get thrown around, and half the time appear down the luggage chute at the other end, so have luggage landing on them etc. We had a Mclaren Techno XT which came back battered and bruised (but usable!) from an Oz trip, and that's pretty robust.

poppercondria · 28/01/2012 19:05

Buy the cheapest collapsable 3 month-onwards pushchair you can (Maclaren-type) and use it whenever you travel, from now until you DC is out of the pushchair for good. Don't send an expensive pushchair via baggage handlers! All airlines have widely varying policies on whether they'll let the pushchairs on the plane, and even with a foldable, they may check it after all if the flight is very full and they need the space for something else. If they do that it won't count against your baggage allowance.

Your 15 wo will come to no harm in an umbrella-folding travel pushchair for a few weeks. You'll no doubt take other airplane journeys before the child is out of it, so 'invest' in a cheapie. (Not so cheap it doesn't have swivel wheels, though!)

poppercondria · 28/01/2012 19:06

X-posts with Patricia. Our XT suffered a similar fate. It made 3 transAtlantic crossings before giving up the ghost.

cairnterrier · 28/01/2012 19:06

If you don't think that you'd use it that much once you're back in the UK, could you send the money to your Aussie family and see if they'd buy you the equivalent in Aus? It might also be worth checking whether they'd be cheaper in Aus anyway?

neolara · 28/01/2012 19:07

I would get a McLaren XT. Very soon it will be the only pram you will ever use anyway. They are amazingly robust. Ours has been used pretty much every day for 7 years, has travelled the world and is still going strong.

TubbyDuffs · 28/01/2012 19:09

My last (cheap) stroller was wrecked on the last flight we went on. I would advise buying a cheap one or maybe even getting one over there and using a sling at the airport.

calypso2008 · 28/01/2012 19:10

She is only 15 weeks - tiny! Just take a baby bjorn type thing with you. Don't cart a pram half way round the world!

calypso2008 · 28/01/2012 19:13

YY, TubbyDuffs - use a sling/baby bjorn for travel and get a really cheapo pushchair while over there (if you really think you will need it) then next time you go - it will be there for you! I didn't use a pushchair for over a year - then just got a cheap one.

poppercondria · 28/01/2012 19:20

If you get an XT or similar (they cost, but are robust, light and good for both travel and everyday), then buy a light, cheap duffel bag that will fit the pushchair. Stuff it into your carryon, and if you need to check the pushchair at the gate, then pop it into the duffel before handing it over. You can also just 'decide' to check a pushchair at the gate, and crew will generally just do it without a thought as to your luggage allowance.

Original poster
Somersaults · 28/01/2012 20:00

Great advice from everyone - thank you. I was planning on using a sling round the airport anyway as I think that'll be easiest especially as we have to change planes at Dubai. We will get a lot of use out of a pram/stroller while we're there though so I'll need something. I'll maybe ask family to look on eBay over there or charity shops perhaps. Maclaren XT sounds good though and I will definitely have a look at it even if just for future use!

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suebfg · 28/01/2012 20:06

We took our McLaren on various long haul flights including Oz and it was perfectly fine - it was an XT.

seaside72 · 28/01/2012 20:19

We have travelled long haul a lot with DS since he was 4 months old and my best advice is buy a baby jogger city mini and a large carry bag (from sunshine kids I think - made for carseats but fits the bjcm fine) you can take the buggy to the door of the plane and then fold it and put it inside the bag (which has been folded in the basket underneath.) Ours has done at least 6 long haul returns and more than 10 short haul and was always fine in the bag. They are brilliant buggies and great for travel to sunny places because of the extra large hood, lie flat etc.
I had a Mclaren XT but found it to be heavy and quite difficult?? Just my opinion, I know everyone else seems to love them!

Daftapath · 28/01/2012 20:29

We took an old Mothercare buggy to the States, planning on buying a cheap replacement over there. Ended up paying more for a Maclaren there than we would have over here!

So do your homework before you go. Maybe ask your family if they have any friends who could lend you one whilst over there.

Alternatively, buy a second hand one here or post on free cycle for one to take with you. Slings are fab, unless you are out for dinner and want to have them asleep and be able to eat yourself whilst they are sleeping.

LillianGish · 28/01/2012 20:40

Whatever you do and whatever pram you take I wouldn't advise putting it in the hold. We lost two pushchairs coming through Heathrow (on two separate occasions).

suebfg · 28/01/2012 20:40

The McLaren XT is heavy but it is sturdy and a little wider than your average buggy.

Original poster
Somersaults · 28/01/2012 23:42

I've l

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Original poster
Somersaults · 28/01/2012 23:47

Sorry that's what you get typing on your phone with one hand half awake while bf!

I've looked at prices for Baby Jogger City Mini and Maclaren XT and unless we can get a great deal second hand here or in Australia I think we'll be looking at the cheapest possible fold up stroller when we get there. I suppose we could always package our Cherry back up in it's boxes and check them in but the more I think about it the less it is worth doing. The only advantage I suppose is that she could sleep in the carrycot whilst we're there. Blah. This whole travelling with an infant is taking far too much thinking about. It's making my maternity leave, hasn't been used in m

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Original poster
Somersaults · 28/01/2012 23:47

Sorry, touch screen phone to blame again...

Hasn't been user in months, brain hurt.

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JustMeAndMyBaby · 28/01/2012 23:52

I took a quinny to turkey no problems. Managed to get it to fold in one piece but lots of people were checking in two bits of pram separately and at check in the kept trying to give us two tickets for it no questions asked!!

JustMeAndMyBaby · 28/01/2012 23:54

I would just show up with it I'm sure it'll be fine some people I met had pram in two bits plus a car seat no problems!

startail · 29/01/2012 00:09

Defiantly cheep and cheerful, airports give buggies a hard time.

We hired a buggy in Majorca from the bile place. Hadn't bothered to take one as DD2 was 3. However, you forget that a nice stroll down the sea front is very hard work if your legs are short and it's past your bed time.

startail · 29/01/2012 00:09

Bike hire shop not bile hireBlush

SleepyFergus · 29/01/2012 00:17

I can second the Sunshine Kids buggy bag for the hold. It's also handy for stuffing other bits and pieces in too.....but then we were only away for 10 days in Portugal and flew with Ryan Air. We stuffed nappies, beach towels and paperbacks in with the buggy and they didn't bat an eyelid. Saved us loads on weight in our other luggage Wink

But the buggy bag at least gives a bit of protection and keeps everything together.

Might be cheaper overall to rake a cheapie buggy and get a travel cot when you are over there. Or dies your Aussie family know of someone that they can borrow from?

Happy hols when they come!! Bit of sun will be lovely!!

slaw · 29/01/2012 00:20

If you can afford to go to Aus you can afford a cheap pram. Stop whinging!!

GalaxyAddict · 29/01/2012 00:20

I took my maxi cosi and pram wheels to America last year. They got there okay, had a few scratches, but totally broke the wheels on the return flight. American Airways would not take any responsibility for the damage, but the baggage handlers sent my wheels back to Silver Cross to be repaired & gave me a fold up stroller thing to use while my pram was getting fixed. I was able to take the pram right up to the gate, and it got 'thrown' in the hold as we boarded.